Archives for July 10, 2014

It is fun and exciting to paint the exterior of your home, but if you are not careful, you can injure yourself while doing the job. If there are family members/friends helping you out, it is your responsibility to ensure their safety too.

The ladder needs to be placed in such a way that for every 3 feet up, your ladder should be placed 1 foot away from the house (3:1). This ratio makes your position more stable. The ground underneath should be firm without rocks or loose objects around it. Don’t use plastic drop cloths under any circumstances for putting underneath the ladder as it will enable it to move and kick out from under you.

Have your hand and both feet on the ladder at all times without straddling between the house and the ladder. The latter position might prove fatal as the ladder might become unstable causing you to fall backwards.

If there are power lines next to where you are painting, use a fiberglass ladder since they don’t conduct electricity. Even if you accidentally touch a power line while on the ladder, you won’t receive an electric shock.

It is advisable to have someone stay beside you in case you have to place the ladder in an unsafe place. They can give you a heads-up if they notice anything wrong.

You need to be extra cautious while painting the roof. If you lose your footing, then the fall might cause grave injuries. Invest in a fall arrest system which will slow you down if you fall. Avoid painting the roof just after it has rained.

Needless to say, heavy objects like ladders falling on your feet will result in broken bones. For your protection, wear steel-toed boots, which will keep your toes safe if something accidentally falls on them. They provide a good rubber traction, which comes in handy while painting the roof.

Don’t paint when there is lightning. If it starts raining while you are on the job, pack up everything right away. Fiberglass ladders will not protect you because electricity can arch from your house to you. Also, aluminum ladders conduct electricity and if it is struck by lightning you will receive a nasty shock.

At Southwest Professional Painting our experts can talk to you about safety measures while painting the exterior of your home. Give us a call 602-490-0979!